SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga forward Kelly Olynyk said Friday he will skip his senior season to enter the NBA draft.
The decision caps a whirlwind season in which Olynyk went from afterthought to All-America selection and led Gonzaga to the top spot on the Associated Press poll for the first time in school history.
The 7-foot forward said he made the final decision Thursday night and informed coaches and teammates. He said the big factor was his desire to play in the NBA.
"In the end, it's something you've dreamed about since you were a little kid," Olynyk said Friday, which was his 22nd birthday
Olynyk, a native of Canada, averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the field. He led Gonzaga to a 32-3 season than ended when the top-seeded Bulldogs were upset by Wichita State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.